Vanessa Obioha
Music streaming platform Spotify has released its annual Wrapped data, a snapshot of how Nigerians listened in 2025. This year saw artists like Burna Boy and Ayra Starr maintain their dominance in the Most Exported Artists and Most Streamed Female Artists categories respectively. Wizkid displaced Asake as the Most Streamed Artist in Nigeria, while Davido and Omah Lay’s ‘With You’ emerged as the Most Streamed Song of the Year. Wizkid’s album Morayo also topped the chart as the Most Streamed Album.
Wrapped 2025 also spotlighted the quiet rise of a new wave of musicians, particularly in the Most Streamed Songs category. Fido’s viral anthem ‘Joy is Coming’ landed at No. 2; Kunmie’s breakout debut ‘Arike’ followed at No. 3; Faceless’ ‘Venus’ took the No. 4 spot, while FOLA claimed No. 6 with ‘Lost.’
“Nigeria’s 2025 Wrapped paints a picture of a music scene that is absolutely thriving. It’s incredible to see how fast Nigerians embrace fresh voices right alongside the legends,” says Phiona Okumu, Spotify’s Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa.
The data also revealed that Nigerians are listening to podcasts more than ever, recording a 97% year-on-year growth in consumption. Podcast creation also saw significant momentum, increasing by 48% as more Nigerians began producing their own shows.
A notable insight this year is the shift in the pace of local music consumption. While Wrapped 2024 reported a 146% increase in local streaming from the previous year, 2025 recorded a slower—but still positive—82% rise. Afrobeats listenership grew by 22%, and daily streams climbed by 23%, yet the decelerated growth suggests either fewer major releases or a cooling appetite for local sounds. Only a handful of artists delivered viral moments, such as Fido’s early-year hit, with many noteworthy releases arriving later in the year, including Adekunle Gold’s ‘Many People,’ released in October ahead of his Fuji album.
Wrapped 2025 offers both reassurance and a quiet warning. While Nigerian artists remain globally resonant, the slower growth in local consumption hints at an ecosystem in need of fresher, more frequent breakout moments. With emerging voices already stirring the waters and established acts gearing up for new projects, the coming year will reveal whether this slowdown is a temporary pause, or the beginning of a shift in how Nigerians engage with their own music.
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